The comment Summer left in the last Manifesto statement got me all worked up to start preachin’ on community. Before I start humming soulful-like, I need to check myself. Now first, Summer you said “the ‘old-fashion’ communities and neighborhoods I tend to think of are
very narrow, excluding everyone and everything that doesn’t fit the
white-picket fenced-in notions of what belongs.”

Whew, girl, it sounds like you’ve gotten burned by a community somewhere before. No good. Hopefully we can rectify that when Spout’s up and running. Now when I’m talking about community-particularly a film community-I’m talking about a place that makes room for folks like you and me, not a place that only makes room for just a few esoteric indie militants. Who am I-or anybody else for that matter-to say what’s good and bad? You mentioned Wendigo. I’ve got a buddy in New York who met the director and watched the film at his apartment. He thought it was great. I checked some reviews and they said it’s terrible. But I’ve got it in my queue because my buddy said it’s good and the director is a cool guy. As mentioned in Manifesto 4, WHY the film appeals to me is purely subjective. Spout is a place to find others with your subjective tastes and, if you’ve got a little spunk in you, find people who might push those tastes a bit.

Now I’ll make this personal and put my own neck on the chopping block. Some of you who read my personal blog (godinruins) know that I’ve got a bit of a problem with Mr. Lars Von Trier. I think he’s brilliant and Breaking the Waves changed the way I think about film. But recently I think he’s become consumed with hatred for the old US of A. I think that hatred has led him to try and make films that are statements about this country (which he’s never been to) and in the process brutalize with extreme prejudice the characters in his films, like Grace in Dogville. Whatever he may think of George W or Americans, I refuse to finish a film that is underhandedly saying that this country is basically a culture built on an undercurrent of sadism. Also, to repeatedly brutalize his characters again and again I think that Von Trier has personally shut off some much needed compassion within himself.

My take on Von Trier is a very unpopular one. Maybe it’s because many of us feel guilty for being American, and it’s become a knee jerk reaction to let foreigners take pot shots at us. Maybe I’m unpopular because I’m wrong, but what I’ve said above is what I think and I’m sticking to it. So I won’t be in the Lars Von Trier fan club (which I’m sure will be huge) when it shows up on Spout. But there will be one and who am I to bash anybody who loves him?

Also, Summer, you mentioned you have some indie friends that want to take down Hollywood. I hear you. But I should clarify that Spout is not about taking down Hollywood. We like a lot of films that have come out of Hollywood. We do want to take a shot at the Hollywood distribution system that heavily favors “big” films that are supposed to appeal to big audiences. We think it’s just plain unfair that “little” films have to appeal to the big guys if they’re going to get a chance to find their audience. It’s unfair to the filmmaker and unfair to the audience (i.e. you and me). Spout is about leveling the playing field for little films and big films to find an audience. You and I are constantly hearing the booming voice that markets big movies Hollywood thinks we want. For a lot of people that voice is drowning out the voice of little (and often better) films. Spout does not differentiate between big and little films, we’re about hearing the voices telling us of the “best” films. “The best” means whatever you or I determine we love.

This concludes my sermon. Thanks for the comment Summer. It made my day.